Question NW2805 to the Minister of Home Affairs
10 October 2022 - NW2805
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)With reference to his indication in November 2019 that his department is working around the clock to ensure that the registration of a public-private partnership (PPP) for visa facilitation services occurs timeously, and in view of the fact that the contract with VFS Global was extended to December 2022 without going to tender for several years past the expiry of the original contract, what is the progress on registering the PPP; (2) with the current contract giving the specified company a monopoly on visa processing services and has seen several local companies and professionals that previously provided visa services out of business, what has he found to be the reason for the lack of political will to provide a visa facilitation service that benefits not only the international corporate, but also South African immigrations professionals as provided by a PPP model?
Reply:
1. The Department registered a PPP project with the National Treasury on the 14th of January 2020. The Project is allocated reference N138. The National Treasury through the Government Technical Advisory Component (GTAC) has been providing support and guidance to the Department.
2. Please provide us with evidence that there is lack of political will. The Department had already appointed a service provider (24 May 2022) through an open bidding process (Kelotlhoko Consulting Services) as a transaction advisor to conduct a feasibility study and PPP procurement for VISA and permit application centre services through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) for a period of three years. This appointment was part of the requirements of the PPP model. However, it came to the attention of the Department that the appointed service provider was convicted of money laundering under Case No 111/40/2022 at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in that Mr Kgatitsoe (the owner) submitted fake invoices to the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality and the Department followed a process to cancel the contract. The Department has successfully cancelled the contract and will be commencing with a new competitive process to replace this contract. All service providers will be provided with an equal opportunity through the PPP process.
END